The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-07-30
WHY DID SHE DO 1T?
BY CLYDE RAYMOND.

"What ais you, Mark, my boyS Why
you are positively moping 1 suspect Do.
lores has something to do with it. If So
why don't you speak at ONCE and put an
end 10 all this riyaty9 YOU have my hearty
sanction, I'm sure. Nothing could please
me more than TO see my lovely ward become
your BRIDE"
81 am sorry your hopes are doomed to
disappointment, Mr.. Howard" says a
younger voice; sad; almost stern with re.
pressed pain and passion. 81 have already
asked her. and-been fefusedr'
"Refused She has refused you?"-in a
tone of unbounded surprise and disappoint-
ment. 81 thought-Why, Mark, l was
positive she cared for you. Why did she
do it?"
"WhyP sclfoed the other, with short,
hard laugh. ''My dear sir, does Miss Fen.
more usually condescend to give her reasons
for breaking mans heart? Hardly.
Ithink"-with quiet but intense bitterness
''she finds 1t so very easy to lead us pooi
devils on until we are ready to stake the
hopes of lifetime on single word from
those beautiful lips of hers. we get It'll
is sw6etiS, patketically spoken, but it is
no. all thu; same, and--that settles it,
with me, at least. I'm going west to-mor-
row."
The figure sitting so quietly beside the
open window, looking thoughtfully out in.
TO the soft, warm shadows of the early au.
tumn evening, gives ahaif start as Mark
Verner's sonrnful words fall stiiigfngly up
on her ear, and a'swift, hot flush crimsons
the lovely face from chin to forehead.
Pm going west Tomorrow" is the alb
rubt ending of II all. And she repeats the
words below her breath, the hot color fad
ing from her cheek as swiftly as it came,
her great dark eyes dilating with look Of
unutterable pain:
"Going to-morfow--and i cannot tell
himp' she murmurs, huskily.
The ivory fam in her hand slips from il
and drops upon the floor unheeded, there
is slight, shuddsring rustic OF the siken
dinneI-dress she wears, and then the golden
head falls forward and touches the broad
window-sill, and for the next few moments
Dolores Fenmbre is deal alike to the pain
or pleasures of the world around her.
1t is her guardians voice that arousss her
at last.
"Dolores! Doloresr' he is calling anxi-
Snsly. "What can he the masterp Wake
up, child, tie dihher-bell is ringingp'
She opens her eyes in bewldered way,
aud looks about her. The room is flooded
with gaslight now, and she remembers that
it was full of shadows when she felt her
senses leaving her.
'I-I must have fallen asleep" she
stammers, flushing as she sees Mark Vern-
er standing near. "What is it. guardyP'
ut is dinner" he retorts in his light,
CHEEKY way; ;"and as you are not sufficient
ly wide awake yet to be an entertaining
companion for any one else, | had better
take you in myself"
And as lie draws her arm within his
own, he adds, in lowered voice;
''There is a new guest here tonight, Do
lores-one but little expected and still less
desired, and If yohregard my wishes in the
matter, YOU wilfnot fiirt with him, or en-
courage his attentions in the least. / don't
like the man, and how lie managed to wiring
an invitation from me l can't understand
myself but had almost forgotten il when
= All! there he is NOW, coming this way
Roger Congdong
"Roger CongdOnF'
Dolores puts her hand suddenly to her
heart, and her beautiful fair face grows
white as death. But she quickly recoyers
herself and goes through the introduction
that follows with the polished ease aud
grace of her usual bearing.
She can'feef the keen gaze of those bold
black eyes bent daringiy upon her face
again and again, and detect the yeiled
meaning in his pretty speeches, as the par
ty laugh and chat around the elegantly-ap
pointed dinner table. But she shows no
sign of il in The bright smiles and brilliant
repartee with which she favors him exactly
as she would any other stranger guest.
In the draWing-room he strolR gracefully
over to her side as she stands by the piano
trying to select a song from the piled-up
music-sheets.
''Let me assist YOU" he says politely,
bending near her.
Then, with his bold, handsome face al
most touching the golden head bent over
the music, be suddenly whispers;